Hardly any NI contributions

blackbirdxx

I'm asking this question on behalf of a friend of mine who is coming up to his 66th birthday which is his government pension age.

I offered to look into his situation and accessed the government website on his behalf to establish how many years of full NI contributions he has made. I had assumed he would have accrued the minimum 10 years NI contributions to get the minimum government pension. Looking at the government website, however, it appears that he has very few full years of NI contributions. To make voluntary contributions  now to make up the minimum 10 years will be prohibitively expensive so won't be an option.

My question is, what will he live on for his remaining years? He is a single man currently living in his sisters house (but will have to move at some stage). Presumably, he is entitled to benefits but what benefits is he entitled to, and approximately how much??

Many thanks in advance to anyone who can help... 

theblueflash

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check/

Check here for benefits? 

Was it an actual state pension forecast you checked ? 

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

jem16

What’s he doing for income just now? When he reaches State Pension Age he may be eligible for Pension Credit. 

eskbanker

blackbirdxx said:

I had assumed he would have accrued the minimum 10 years NI contributions to get the minimum government pension. Looking at the government website, however, it appears that he has very few full years of NI contributions.

Do you have any idea about why his entitlement is so low?  For example, has he lived outside the UK for much of his life, in which case would he have accumulated pension entitlement from one or more other countries?

Marcon

blackbirdxx said:

My question is, what will he live on for his remaining years? He is a single man currently living in his sisters house (but will have to move at some stage). Presumably, he is entitled to benefits but what benefits is he entitled to, and approximately how much??

What's he living on now? Any reason he can't get a job (or keep his current job if he's working now), as he's only in his mid-60s? If he's going to have to move out of his sister's house, he'll need to pay rent elsewhere and any benefits for which he qualifies won't go far.

xylophone

Is he currently employed?

If so, is there a workplace pension?

Has he ever been employed?

If so, any pension from previous employment?

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs48_pension_credit_fcs.pdf

p00hsticks

theblueflash said:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check/

Check here for benefits? 

Was it an actual state pension forecast you checked ? 

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

I'm not sure a state pension forecast will be available to him if he doesn't have the minimum ten full year requirement. 

blackbirdxx

Thanks for all the useful info guys.....

Was it an actual state pension forecast you checked ?
Yes, from the govt website but he has little NI conts.

Do you have any idea about why his entitlement is so low?  For example, has he lived outside the UK for much of his life, in which case would he have accumulated pension entitlement from one or more other countries?
He has paid very little NI, not sure of the reason. He has worked all his life on building sites and is not up to speed on all of this stuff. 

What’s he doing for income just now? When he reaches State Pension Age he may be eligible for Pension Credit.
He is currently living off savings and free accom off his sister. I guess that pension credit will be what he lives on.

What's he living on now? Any reason he can't get a job (or keep his current job if he's working now), as he's only in his mid-60s? If he's going to have to move out of his sister's house, he'll need to pay rent elsewhere and any benefits for which he qualifies won't go far.
Back on the building site may be an option but he did stop work about  9 months ago following a problem with his leg. Site work is tough for oldies, not like working behind a desk. Stupidly, he has not claimed any benefits since he stopped work.

Is he currently employed? No

If so, is there a workplace pension? No workplace pension as self employed and not having made provisions.

Has he ever been employed? Yes

If so, any pension from previous employment? No

I assume that as there is no way he can afford to purchase 10 yrs state pension he will have to live on pension credit.
Who should he be talking to ensure that he gets the full benefits? Is it likely to be the same money as the basic state pension as nobody can really live on less than that??

Anyway, thx again

Dazed_and_C0nfused

If he has been self employed in the construction industry do you know why he hasn't been paying Class 2 National Insurance??

MX5huggy

Cash in hand for 50 years. 

xylophone

https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/benefits/#:~:text=There are some agencies who,also be able to assist.

The above might be of assistance.